Chicken crosses road, police respond

Portland police responded to a call of a chicken crossing the road in Linnton on Monday afternoon.

No, really.

A caller on the police non-emergency line said the chicken was creating a traffic hazardous by trying to cross busy Highway 30 during the afternoon rush hour.

North Precinct officers could not find the chicken when they reached the area north of the St. Johns Bridge around 5:45 p.m. on Aug. 11, however. There was no sign of any motor vehicle accidents, either.

But that does not mean the police consider the call a prank.

"While 'chicken crossing road' jokes have been told for more than a century, animals in the roadway creating traffic hazards are no laughing matter," the bureau said in a Tuesday afternoon press release. "If you see animals (or people) in or near the roadway potentially causing a traffic hazard, please call the Police Non-Emergency line at (503) 823-3333."